Constitution Day and Citizenship Day: Guest Speaker Pedro Noguera

Pedro Noguera presents "Education and Social Transformation: Creating Schools That Can Meet the Needs of a Changing Society."

As societies undergo demographic transformation schools are required to play a role in integrating new citizens and immigrants so that the strains caused by social adjustment can be eased over time. However, educators typically receive little guidance in what they should do during such periods of change to facilitate language acquisition and acculturation for the newcomers or to prepare the host population for the changes that will invariably occur. Drawing on research from the United States and other societies that have undergone transformations as a result of immigration and demographic change, this presentation will describe what educators and policymakers can do to insure that immigrant youth receive an education that will enable them to successfully adjust to their new society.

Noguera speaks eloquently about topics such as urban school reform, conditions that promote student achievement, the role of education in community development, youth violence, and race and ethnic relations in American society.